Half to sophia g



(No Model.)

G. W. BLANCHARD. BLEGTRIG CAR STOPPING DEVICE.

vPa.-te11'm= d Apr. '7, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE \VEBBER BLANCHARD, OF IVATERVILLE, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO SOPHIA G. VEBBER, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC-CAR-STOPPING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,843, dated April 7, 1891.

Application filed October 16, 1890. Serial No. 368,343. (No model.)

To @ZZ 10700171, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WEBBER BLANCHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterville,in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Uar-Stopping Devices; and I do hereby declare the following' to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as [o will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The chief objects of this invention are to provide a positive gearelockin g device for electric cars, which will become operative to stop r 5 the car if the latter, on failure of the current,

begins to run backward downhill, and to arrange for controlling the braking devices and also the impelling-motor of the car by a single circuit-closer and indicator, which may be 2o located ou the platform and easily manipulated. To attain these objects I make use of the devices hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure 2 5 represents my improved gear-locking devices partly iu vertical section and side elevation partly in diagram.

A represents the door of the ear.

In a bushing h, fastened to the railing of 3o the car-platform, there is journaled the horizontal shaft C of a hand-wheel C', said shaft also bearing an indicator-finger C2. The feedwire F on entering the car passes iirst to "a solenoid U and thence to a switch-bar Y,

3 5 having` a handle Y. From this point the feed-wire divides, or, speaking more exactly, there are two supplemental wires F F2. The former extends directly from a contact f on a switch-board f (attached to the railing of 4o the car-platform) to said shaft C2 or an attachment thereof. The other wire F2 exextends from another contact-post f2, on said switch-board f to a small magnet r, and thence to said shaft C2 or any attachment thereof.

When the switch-bar Y is on contact f', the circuit is thus through solenoid U only, and when said bar Y is on contact f2 the circuit is through the small magnet r and through solenoid U also. A magnetic bar V is mov- 5o able endwise up and down in the hollow core u of solenoid U. It carries at its lower end a block V, provided with cog-teeth c', arranged to engage the motor-.gears V2 V3, and thus lock the car whenever said bar and blockI are left free to descend. Vhile the solenoid U is in circuit the said block is held up out of engagement and the gears V2 V3 are free to turn, so that the car may run; but a failure of electric current through said solenoid from any cause arising will end the attract- 6c ive power of said solenoid, and the bar and block will be no longer prevented thereby from falling and locking, as stated; but this would be very inconvenient on level ground, and in ordinary circumstances I therefore 6 5 provide the said bar on one side with a shoulder or enlargement o2 and arrange a pivoted stop U3 to bear obliquely upward against it, holding said bar from falling. This stop is attached to a hanger or frame Q24, which is 7c made fast to the under side of the door of the car, and also supports the said small magnet r. This magnet is in proximity to said stop and arranged so that when energized it will attract the upper part of said stop, which is metallie, away from said shoulder, the stop turning as a pivoted armature against said magnet. Vhen this small temporary magnet fr is demagnetized, the pivoted stop drops again into position for holding up said bar and 8O block. To allow this the magnet and stop are inclined, as shown. i

The operation of this locking device is as follows: IVhen running along level ground, the circuit is through contact f and solenoid U, the block is out of gear, and the pivoted stop holds it so. If then the circuit is accidentally broken or the current fails, the gearing will not be locked and the car will run for a short distance by its own momen- 9o tum, stopping gradually with no jar, or not stopping at all if the defect be remedied in time; but in ascending a hill, or just before doing so, the switch-bar Y is shifted to contact f2, as shown, and the circuit is 'then 95 through both the solenoid U and the small magnet r. The former still holds the block out of engagement with the gears, but the latter draws away the stop, as described, so that there is nothing else to support said block. loo If then the current fails, the bar and block will drop at once before said pivoted stop can an electrically-operated vehicle, a block provided with cog-teeth and arranged to antomaticall y engage with said gears, a solenoid or magnet which normally holds said block out of such engagement, and the necessary e1ectrical connections and circuit-closing devices, substantially as set forth.

3. A locking device for the motor-gears of an electric car, in combination with a movable stop Afor holding it out of engagement, a

magnet for withdrawing said stop, and the electricalconductors and circuit-closing dcvices, substantially as set forth.

4. A movable block provided with cog-teeth and a metallic bar to which it is attached, in combination with the motor-gears of an electric car, said gears being arranged to be locked by said block when it descends, a solenoid and movable stop independently holding up said bar and block, a magnet arranged to attract and withdraw said stop, electric conductors making a circuit through said solenoid only and another circuit through Said solenoid and said magnet, and a switch-bar controlling both of said circuits, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE Wlllllllt BLANCHARD.

Witnesses:

Il. S. BLANCHARD, JOHN WE'eeni-z. 

